By Steve Sherack
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A star is born at the Spa.
West Point Thoroughbreds's Counting Stars (Honor A. P.), third behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Always a Runner (Gun Runner) in the GI Kentucky Oaks, turned the tables on the previously undefeated 4-5 favorite with a spectacular performance in Friday's GI DraftKings Acorn S. at Saratoga.
With Irad Ortiz, Jr. taking over the controls from Francisco Arrieta, the 9-2 chance raced under a snug hold on the inside in third as the longest shot on the board Maximum Offer (Maxfield) led the field of five through fractions of :23.41 and :47.73. Back a spot into fourth on the far turn, Ortiz, Jr. tipped Counting Stars out at the top of the stretch as the Kentucky Oaks one-two Always a Runner and Meaning (Gun Runner) began to throw down up front.
Counting Stars unleashed a sensational turn of foot from there and exploded down the center to leave the pair in the dust by 3 3/4 lengths. Always a Runner had two lengths over Meaning for runner-up honors.
“It kind of didn't go as planned,” winning trainer Mark Casse said after saddling his second straight Acorn winner. “I thought we might be on the lead. And then I guess Kenny (McPeek) thought maybe he'd try it (with Maximum Offer). So, that's why you have Irad (Ortiz, Jr.). That is why I don't give a whole lot of instructions.”
Casse continued, “She (overcame) a lot of adversity today, because she doesn't usually like to be down inside and I think Francisco (Arrieta) rode her great in the Oaks. He saved all the ground, but he couldn't get out until late and she came running late. So Irad had watched the race and determined at the top of the lane he was going to get out. In fairness, we had a five-horse field versus 13, it makes a difference.”
Counting Stars, a 5 1/2-length winner of the GII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Mar. 27, finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Always a Runner beneath the lights on the first Friday in May.
“When I hit the clear, she jumped into the bit and I feel like I have the horse to run down the lane,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “She went by them easy in her own way. She did it the right way today, honestly. She won the right way. She was there for me.”
Casse added that Counting Stars would be aimed at the GI Alabama S. Aug. 22.
Pedigree Notes:
Counting Stars is one of two graded winners for Honor A. P. She becomes the young sire's first Grade I winner.
Counting Stars is the first foal from the two-time winner Paynterbynumbers (Paynter), who brought $160,000 from Ken Copenhaver at the 2026 Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale. She made the first seven starts of her career for West Point before changing hands for $40,000 in a waiver maiden claimer.
The 10-year-old Paynterbynumbers is also represented by an Epicenter filly of 2025. She was not bred for the 2026 season.
Counting Stars's fourth dam Golden Reef (Mr. Prospector) won the 1989 GII Schuylerville S. and was also second in that term's GI Spinaway S., both at Saratoga.
COUNTING STARS gets her Grade 1 moment.
Third in the Kentucky Oaks last time out, she wins the @DraftKings Acorn Stakes under @iradortiz for trainer @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/9tWekxJPDY
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) June 5, 2026
Friday, Saratoga
DRAFTKINGS ACORN S.-GI, $485,000, Saratoga, 6-5, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:48.85, ft.
1–COUNTING STARS, 124, f, 3, by Honor A. P.
1st Dam: Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter
2nd Dam: Ruth and Neva, by Cherokee Run
3rd Dam: Tap for Gold, by Pleasant Tap
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($13,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds; B-HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-1, $1,385,606. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Always a Runner, 124, f, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Always Carina (GSP, $218,800), by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Miss Always Ready, by More Than Ready
3rd Dam: Miss Seffens, by Dehere
'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,050,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Meaning, 124, f, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Figure of Speech (GISP), by Into Mischief
2nd Dam: Starlight Lady, by Elusive Quality
3rd Dam: Colcon, by Pleasant Colony
($440,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $60,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2, 5HF. Odds: 4.72, 0.86, 3.52.
Also Ran: Prom Queen, Maximum Offer. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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